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Pyramid State Park - Denmark Unit Hunter Fact Sheet

LOCATION: This site is located 3 miles southeast of Cutler on Pyatt-Cutler Road in Perry County, Illinois

DESCRIPTION:

Total Acres: 4,385

Huntable Acres: 4,385

Habitat Type Acres: Cropfields 553

Timber 282; Grasslands/Pastures 3,156

Lakes/Wetlands 394

AVAILABLE GAME SPECIES:

Deer Rabbit Furbearers Squirrel

Woodcock Quail Waterfowl Dove

The Denmark Unit is one of five management units that comprise Pyramid State Park. The reclaimed surface strip mine property was purchased from Ark Land Company on December 15, 2000. The area is dominated by large grasslands which are interspersed with cropfields, large lakes and small wetlands. A 539 acre seasonal waterfowl refuge (October 28 - February 28) has been established which provides land and water habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The site is open to deer, dove, waterfowl, rabbit, squirrel and quail hunting by permit only. Hunter quotas and other site specific restrictions are in effect to improve the quality of the hunting experience.

SITE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS:

Hunters are advised that "Free Site Hunting Permits" (windshield cards) to hunt all species are now ONLY available online from the IDNR homepage - www.dnr.illinois.gov. Navigate to "hunting/trapping", then "public hunting areas", select Region 5 to print these permits. ALL hunters are required to have a state hunting permit. Hunters are required to return to this website prior to February 15 to record harvest information. Failure to submit harvest data will result in loss of hunting privileges for the following year.

Hunters must maintain accurate records of each hunt.

The area has been designated for deer hunting as a archery only Quality Deer Management Area. Therefore, antlerless deer or antlered deer having at least four points on a side may be taken. Site is closed for Late Winter Anterless Only Season 2014-2015.

It is illegal to construct or use any tree stand using nails, screws or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree which it was installed. Tree stands which are used for deer hunting must be removed from the area at the end of each day's hunt.

Quail and rabbit hunters must apply for a Free Upland Game Permit issued by statwide lottery from the permit office. All applications must be made via the internet accessible at www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/uplandgame through August 31. Applicants may apply only once and receive one permit per year. Each permittee will be allowed to bring up to 2 hunting partners.

All upland game hunters engaged in quail and rabbit hunting must wear a cap and outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches.

Dove hunting hours are 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m., hunters must participate in a daily lottery at 11 a.m. at the Galum Unit Office September 1 - 5 to hunt over sunflower or wheat fields. Statewide regulations thereafter. Non-toxic shot size number 6 or smaller. Unsuccessful lottery participants and other hunters not participating in the lottery drawing may only hunt in designated areas during September 1 - 5. This area is: all land south of Quonset Hut road to Tangen Cemetary Road to Brushy Creek Raod.

No turkey hunting allowed.

A daily lottery will be conducted for staked waterfowl locations during duck season only at the Galum Unit Office beginning at 4:30 a.m. in November, 5:00 a.m. in December and 5:30 a.m. in January. Minimum of 12 decoys, no more than 4 hunters per party, a hunter's name may only appear on one lottery card, after duck season is closed, hunters may not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag. Shooting hours are legal opening to 1:00 pm. The land and water portion of the Denmark refuge will be closed to all access from October 29 through February 28. Hunters not participating in the daily draw must be 200 yards from the next hunting party. No teal hunting will be allowed in the refuge. Waterfowl hunters no participating in the daily lottery may not access Pyramid State Park property until 4:30 am in November, 5:00 am in December, and 5:30 am in January. Waterfowl hunters may not hunt on main lakes other than staked locations. Hunters may hunt in cropfields and wetlands which have not been staked, however they must be a minimum of 200 yards from the nearest staked location. No September Canada goose hunting will be allowed. The area is closed to all waterfowl hunting on Mondays.

Youth Waterfowl season is held the weekend preceding the South Central Zone duck opener.

Furbearer trapping/hunting must have site permit, no foot hold traps, body gripping traps must be submerged.

Statewide regulations apply, unless otherwise specified.

For further information or to obtain a site permit, contact: Pyramid State Park, 1562 Pyramid Park Road, Pinckneyville, IL 62274 (618/357-2574).

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702; (217)785-0067; TTY (217)782-9175.